Glamorous Yoga?

WHO KNEW?

Marilyn Monroe in bow pose. Click below to read the whole article.

Who knew that yoga could be glamorous? I had no idea, really. I never look like this is bow pose, that's for sure. As yoga gains in popularity, here in the United States, we are seeing more and more versions of yoga popping up: trendy yoga, themed yoga, hot yoga, pot-smokers yoga, it goes on and on. There is truly a yoga for every individual out there. What about the fashionistas, the glamour girls? Where do they fall into the mix? I think we need a new type of yoga for the girly girls, maybe serve some wine after and offer some facials and massage as well? Sounds great to me....but how to keep your hair looking so perfect after 20 down dogs? Hmmm.....

Marilyn Monroe: Yoga Superstar

Living Your Yoga

Make your practice fun! 

I keep finding myself doing what my daughter calls "random yoga poses" all over the place...standing in tree pose while casually chatting with a friend at the grocery store, kicking into headstands left and right, watching t.v. in bound angle pose and pictured above--painting in half moon pose. I think that it is of the utmost importance to make your yoga practice FUN! Yoga has recently infiltrated my life and filled it with joy and fullness. I think that is why it is spilling over into every other activity in my life...there is so much happiness that has come to me through yoga and now it is pouring back out of me! 

I really do strive to live my yoga everyday in my life and not just by breaking out "random yoga poses" but by truly making each breath the first priority, appreciating my life and staying mindful always, keeping my union with my true self throughout every task and errand, loving wholly and completely...everyday. So, not taking my self or my practice too seriously is a nice way to remain playful and easy in my life. I want to be like a little child, curious and happy and always exploring. If yoga is my playground, I want to come home every night at dinnertime with dirty knees and scraped elbows, grinning ear to ear....all played out! 

The Business of Yoga

Now that I have completed my 200 hour yoga alliance certification, the real work begins. Jump starting a new career should be an arduous task, lots of hours studying markets and job listings, meetings and interviews. This is no life for a fun-loving yogi like myself. How do I reconcile this passion for yoga with the actual career aspect of yoga without losing my love and authenticity for yoga? 

The business of yoga doesn't always seem to reflect the same ethics and guidelines as found in the actual practice of yoga. This is not an "aha" moment, this is a fact, one that we cannot avoid here in the United States. There are articles coming out proclaiming that our Eastern version of yoga is an inaccurate practice that does not maintain the roots in the Western philosophy and religions. There are articles about how yoga will ruin your body. The growth of yoga in our country means growth of the business of yoga, the merchandise, the big corporations and bad publicity. Will America make this ancient practice into McYoga?

My goal to remain faithful to my yoga practice without "selling out" becomes even trickier when I decided to teach yoga classes full time. The more I seemed to want to push into this new field, the more I felt resistance. It wasn't until I relaxed into the idea that the universe would provide me with what I need to succeed that I felt supported. Once I stopped worrying about where the next class would come from or how much I would get paid per student, everything fell right into place. Jobs started just appearing, phone calls coming in, facebook messages received. Now I have 3 sets of studio keys and plenty of work to do. 

One of the things that I love the most about yoga is that it makes me feel free, in so many ways. The freedom that I have in my practice is priceless. I like to think about yoga as my playground and keeping that playful  feeling toward yoga is essential!! You don't need $80 yoga pants or a designer mat made out of sacred crystals from Shiva Rea's rock garden. All you need to practice yoga is your mind and your body. Those are the only two pieces of equipment that you will ever need in order to maintain that practice. And faith. Faith that the universe will provide you with what you need to succeed. So keep your attitude and your heart light and wait patiently because there are some really incredible things in store for you too...if you believe!

New business card idea:

Keeping that playful attitude!

Simply practice yoga.

"In stillness

true power requires no exertion,

no effort.

Simply practice yoga.

Then awareness will cease to waver,

untouched by the swirling winds of 

thought, worry, and desire."

-Patanjali's Yoga Sutras part III-10

 I have been thinking about this passage from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras for almost a week now. I am totally captured by the clarity of the message here and the beautiful language urging me, "just keep coming to your mat and the awareness will come! Just show up! It's simple!" Practice yoga--the union of mind and body through meditation--and your attention will become focused and your thinking more clear. Practice yoga--do asanas--and you will find power and ease, strength and calm in each pose. I believe I have found a new mantra now, "Simply practice yoga." Or as Sri K Patthabhi Jois put it, "Do your practice and all is coming."

Live on PURPOSE!

Wisdom from the lobby of Oprah's Lifeclass Tour

Q: What do YOGA and OPRAH have in common?

A: More than I knew!

When I arrived at the newly renovated Peabody Opera House with my girlfriends yesterday, I had little idea how profound my day was about to be. We came to see the taping of Oprah's new Lifeclass the Tour in St. Louis. The tickets were free and when invited, of course I said yes enthusiastically and immediately--as I have recently become inclined to embrace opportunities every chance I get and who doesn't want to spend all day with your best friends and OPRAH? That's a no-brainer! So, I didn't think much about why I happened to end up in the audience that day...it was a random and lovely surprise...right? Some of the first words out of Oprah's mouth were these: "You are NOT here on accident. Each and every one of you are supposed to be here today." Boy, she was right! The message of the show was to live your life on purpose and with purpose, instead of merely floating life without awareness of why you are here.

"Use your passion as an indicator for your purpose," said Bishop T. D. Jakes, the guest speaker and influential leader and global humanitarian--Senior pastor of The Potter's House. This force of a man has been named "America's Best Preacher" by Time Magazine and is a wealth of inspiration and knowledge. The main message of his talk today was to find your purpose and live for that purpose. For those who have experienced struggle or strife, Jakes says to allow that experience to propel you toward your purpose.

The similarity between what I have been learning through Yoga and the lessons from Oprah's lifeclass tour was uncanny! The idea that you were put here on this earth for a specific purpose and that your work here is to evolve into the highest expression of yourself is the message of both my yoga teachings and Oprah's class. This is revolutionary and necessary thinking! Our modern Western world is consumed with racing to the top of the success ladder and doesn't often condone following your bliss. I am elated to see this wisdom being brought forth by leaders like Oprah and Bishop Jakes. Both are such influential leaders that I think they will be able to reach those who would not be drawn toward Yoga.

Oprah In St. Louis

This was an exciting experience, not only because it once again confirmed what I have learned and am still learning to embrace, but because it made me realize that we are not alone as seekers. there will soon be many more people looking for more in their lives, more people wanting to live their lives with purpose. The shift that is occurring in the minds of so many human beings is a natural response to our capitalistic society and the pressure to maintain a certain level of "success." We are moving from wanting a life full of material success and financial wealth to desiring one of personal fulfillment and purpose!

The times are indeed a-changin'! So support Oprah's OWN network if you can because I believe that she is truly sincere about bringing the world a new way of thinking about success. She is really attempting to change our world, one show at a time and bring to the masses a new way of living life. Bravo, Oprah, bravo!

Bakasana...the trouble with crow pose.

I have been trying to master crow pose, AKA crane pose, for many years now without any luck. Although I have always been told that "it's all alignment" by every yogi I know that can do this pose, I have resisted this idea. My scrawny, weak upper body must be the culprit, I kept telling myself. When anyone would bring up that pose, I would cringe and exclaim "I can't do that one!" My bad attitude toward this poor asana was not helping me move any closer to getting up. The last time I tried to get into bakasana in a class I tipped to far forward and fell right on my head. It made a huge thud and the class below us came running upstairs to see what happened. Uh...just Cindy trying to do crow pose. I had almost given up on this asana until I came upon a video where the instructor was leading us through a challenging vinyasa and into a headstand. Boy, I thought to myself, I love inversions...this is my kind of yogi. Then she did the unthinkable...took us from a headstand into crow! She just gently rested those knees on the backs of her arms and voila...bakasana! After a few tries, I was able to balance, if only for a second or two, with my toes lifted off the ground and my forehead not hitting the floor in front of my face. Victory...well something like that, maybe more like..... Progress!!